Rotary current-motor.



E. A. MOGLUNG. ROTARY CURRENT MOTOR. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 21, 1909.

Patented Aug. 2, 1910.

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Patented Aug. 2, 1910.

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E. A. MOCLUNG. ROTARY CURRENT MOTOR.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 21, 1909.

Patented Aug.2,1910.

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E. A. MoOLUNG. ROTARY CURRENT MOTOR. APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 21, 1909. 966,042, Patented Aug. 2, 1910.

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Aer canon EDGAR A. MOCLUNG, OF DAYTON, WASHINGTON.

ROTARY CURRENT-MOTOR.

To all whom ti may concern:

Be it known that I, EDGAR A. MOCLUNG, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dayton, in the county of Columbia and State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rotary Current-lvlotors, and do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descrip tion of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in rotary current motors.

One object of the invention is to provide a machine of this character adapted for use in open streams, or in flumes or water ways whereby the force of the current is converted into power which is transferred to the shore and employed for any desired purpose.

Another object is to provide a current motor having means whereby the movement of the current wheel may be employed to adjust itself to the desired depth and for driving a series of operating devices used in fastening the motor and adjusting the current directing blades thereof.

Still another object is to provide an improved construction of anchoring device having an adjusting mechanism connected to and operated by the power shaft of the motor to raise and lower the anchorage.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved current motor; Fig. 2 is a top plan view; Fig. 3 is a central vertical longitudinal section; Fig. 4 is a horizontal section, taken immediately above the current wheeland showing parts of the connectingmechanism of the motors in section; Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is a detail horizontal section on an enlarged scale, showing more particularly the means for connecting and disconnecting the operat ing mechanism on the deck of the machine with the power shaft of the motor and for reversing the movement of said operating mechanism; Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the connecting mechanism between the motor Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 21, 1909.

Patented A11 2, 1910.

Serial No. 518,823.

' sections and the anchoring mechanism on the wharf Fig. 8 is a plan view of the same; Fig. 9 is a front elevation of the anchoring mechanism; Fig. 10 is a central vertical longitudinal sectional view of the same; Fig. 11 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 11 of Fig. 9; Fig. 12 is a detail vertical section on the line 1212 of Fig. 11; Fig.1?) is a detail horizontal section on the line 1313 of Fig. 9; Fig. 14. is a detail section on the line l41t of Fig. 8 on an enlarged scale.

In the embodiment of the invention here shown wherein the device is arranged for use in an open stream, 1 denotes a supporting frame, comprising a series of vertical standards 2 which are connected together by a series of cross bars 3 and at their upper ends are connected by. longitudinally disposed side bars 4t, on which, if desired, may be arranged a floor or platform 5. The platform 5 may partly or entirely cover the top of the frame 1. Secured to the inner sides of the standards 2 between the cross bars 3 on each side of the frame are longitudinally disposed side plates 6 on one or both ends of which are arranged hinged members 7 comprising pairs of metal plates 8. The hinge plates 8 on the side plates 6 of one motor section engage the hinge plates of the adjoining motor section. On one of the inner plates of the hinged members is formed an annular boss 9 which is engaged by a circular flange 10 on the adjacent inner plate of the hinge. A pivot bolt 11 is inserted through the plates of the hinge and through the center of the boss 9, said bolt and boss thereby pivotally connecting the hinge plates together. It will thus be understood that any number of motor sections may be conneoted together in series to operate in unison.

To the standards 2, on each side of the frame 1, are secured longitudinally disposed hollow fioats 12 which preferably have formed therein compartments, each of which is provided with a water inlet valve 13 and with a simple form of pumping mechanism 14, whereby water may be let into or removed from each of the compartments, thus giving the floats more or less buoyancy, as desired. The float-s are held in position by braces 15 which are connected to the outer side thereof and to the upper and lower ends of the adjacent standards 2. Pivotally mounted beneath the floats 12 are current deflecting blades 16 which are adapted to be adjusted to direct more or less of the current against the current wheel of the motor. The blades 16 are provided with a suitable adjusting mechanism hereinafter described.

Between the upper and lower cross bars 3, .in the opposite ends of the frame 1 are arranged vertically disposed guide standards 17 on the inner edges of which are guide tracks 18. On the tracks 18, between the standards 17, are adjustably mounted power shaft supporting blocks 19 on the upper ends of which are formed bearings 20 in which is revolubly mounted a power shaft #1, on which is arranged the current wheel 22 of the motor. The wheel 22 comprises annular series of radially projecting blades 23 which are twisted or turned at the proper angle to be revolved by the force of the current passing through the machine. The power shaft of one motor section is connected to the end of the power shaft of the next adjacent section by a universal joint 24 whereby said sections are permitted to have a limited independent movement. The forward end of the power shaft of the first motor section is connected by a universal joint 25 to an extension or series of extensions 26 of the power shaft, whereby the movement thereof is imparted to a power transmitting shaft arranged on the shore or on a pier or other suitable anchorage' When the extension of the power shaft is in more than one part or section, said sections are connected together by universal joints.

Connected to the bearings 20 on the upper ends of the shaft supporting blocks 19 are current wheel adjusting rods 28, the upper ends of which are threaded and are engaged with adjusting gears 29 which are revolubly mounted in and secured 'to the upper cross bars 3 by means of bearing brackets or clips 30. The gears 29 have ormed integral therewith bevel gears 31 and said bevel gears and adjusting gears are provided with a threaded bore with which the threaded upper ends of the adjusting rods 28 are engaged whereby when said gears are revolved in one direction or the other, the current wheel may be raised and lowered to the desired position. The upper ends of the adjusting rods 28 project upwardly through the deck or flooring of the frame, as shown. The gears 29 and 31, at the forward end of the frame, are driven by the gears at the rear end of the frame by a connecting shaft 32 journaled in suitable bearings in the upper portion of the frame and having on its opposite ends bevel gears 33 which engage the bevel gears 31 forming part of the adjusting gears 29 on the rods 28. a

On the rear end of the power shaft is loosely mounted a bevel gear 34 which is operatively connected to the shaft by means of a clutch 35. Engaged with the bevel gear 34 is a similar gear 36 on the lower end of a vertically adjust-able power transmitting shaft 37 journaled in suitable bearings on the rear end of the frame and projecting upwardly through the platform of the motor, as shown. On the upper end of the shaft 37 is keyed to slide a spur gear 38 having an integral bevel gear 39 formed thereon, said gear being held in position by a bearing bracket 40 arranged on a supporting plate 40 secured to the projecting ends of the side plates 6 of the motor. The movement of the spur gear 38 is imparted to the adjacent adjusting gear 29 by means of an adjustable power transmitting device comprising a shifting bar 41 which is slidably mounted in guide clips 42 arranged on the support-ing plate 40. In the shifting bar 41 is arranged a slot in which are revolubly mounted two idle intermeshing pinions 43 and a single pinion 43 which pinions are adapted to be brought into engagement with the gear 38 and the gear 29 whereby the motion of the gear 38 is imparted to the gear 29 to revolve the same and the parts operated thereby in one direction or the other. By shifting the bar 41 to an intermediate position, wherein neither of the pinions 43 or 43f will engage the gears 38 and 29, the latter and the parts operated thereby will not be driven.

On the platform of the frame 1, is revolubly mounted in suitable bearings, a drive shaft 44, on one end of which is fixedly mounted a bevel gear 45 which is engaged with driving and reversing gears 46 loosely mounted on a short connecting shaft 47 journaled in suitable bearings on the platform 5, as shown. Between the gears 46 and slidably keyed to the shaft 47 is a double clutch 48 which is actuated by a suitable shifting lever, whereby the same may be engaged with one or the other of the gears 46 to operatively connect the same with the shaft 47 and thereby impart the motion of said shaft to the drive shaft 44 to drive the same in the desired direction. On one end of the shaft 47 is fixedly mounted a bevel gear 49 which engages a similar gear 50 on the upper end of a vertically disposed power transmitting shaft 51 j ournaled in suitable bearings on the platform 5. On the lower end of the shaft 51 is loosely mounted a bevel gear 52 which engages the bevel gear portion 39 of the spur gear 38. On the shaft 51 is slidably keyed a clutch member 53 which is adapted to be shifted into engagement with the bevel gear 52 by a suitable shifting lever, whereby said gear is connected to the shaft 51 and the latter thereby driven by the shaft 37. By means of the clutch operating mechanism, the drive shaft 44 is thrown into and out of gear so that the drive shaft will only be operated when de-' sired.

On the platform 5 is revolubly mounted a winding drum 54 on one end of which is arranged a worm gear 55 which is operatively engaged by a worm 56 on a drum operating shaft 57 which is also revolubly mounted in suitable hearings on the platform 5. On one end of the shaft 57 is loosely mounted a bevel gear 58 which is engaged with a similar gear 59 on the drive shaft 44. The gear 58 is operatively connected with its shaft 57 by a clutch 60 which is slidably keyed on the shaft 57 and is adjusted by a suitable shifting lever, so that when thrown into engagement with the gear 58, the latter will be connected to the shaft 57 to drive the same and said winding drum in the proper direction. To the drum 54 is connected a blade adjusting cable 61, the ends of which extend from the drum and are connected to the free ends of the current directing blades 16 whereby said ends of the blades are drawn inwardly or released to be moved outwardly by the force of the current, thus providing for the adjustment of the blades to the desired position.

Midway between the side plates 6 and con necting the standards 17 with the main standards 2 of the frame are short cross bars 62. The cross bars 62 of one motor section are connected to the cross bars 62 of the next adjacent motor section by pairs of connecting and drum supporting bars 63, the ends of which are hingedly connected to the cross bars 62 by means of clips 64 or other suitable connections. Revolubly mounted in suitable bearings on the bars 63 at each side of the frame, is a winding drum 65. To the drum 65 are connected and adapted to be wound anchoring cables 66, the outer ends of which are secured to suitable anchors at the bottom of the stream. On one end of the winding drum 65 is arranged a worm gear 67 which is engaged by a worm 68 on a jointed worm operating shaft 69. The shafts 69 at each side of the frame are revolubly mounted in suitable bearings on the cross bars 62 on the side plates 6 and extend back into the frame a suitable distance, as shown.

On the inner ends of the shafts 69 are mounted bevel gears 70 which are operatively engaged with. bevel gears 71 on the lower ends of vertically disposed power transmitting shafts 78 journaled in suitable hearings on the side plates 6 and in the platform 5. The shafts 78 project above the platform and on said upper ends are loosely mounted bevel gear pinions 79. The pinions 79 are operatively connected to the shafts 78 by suitable clutches 80. The pinion 79 on the upper end of one of the shafts 78 is engaged with a bevel gear 81 on the drive shaft 44 whereby the motion of said shaft is imparted to said pinion and its shaft when the former is connected thereto by the clutch 80. The pinion 79 on the opposite shaft 78 is engaged with a bevel gear 82 on the shaft 83 mounted in suitable bearings on the platform 5. On one end of the shaft 83 is mounted a bevel gear 84 which is engaged with the bevel gear 81 on the drive shaft 44 whereby the motion of the shaft 44 is imparted to the opposite shaft 78 when the pinion 79 thereon is connected thereto by its clutch 80. By thus connecting the cable winding drums 65 to the drive shaft 44, the motion of said shaft may be transferred or imparted to one or the other or both of the drums to wind up or unwind the cables when desired. On the drive shaft 44 is mounted a gear '85 which is connected by suitable shafts and gearing to the pumping devices 14 on the floats whereby said pumping devices may be operated when desired to pump the water from the compartments in the floats.

In connection with my motor, 1 preferably employ an adjustable fastening or anchoring mechanism whereby the motors are secured to a wharf, pier or other suitable anchorage. My motor fastening device comprises a frame 86 consisting of a back plate 87 and side bars or plates 88. The side bars 88 are connected across the front side of the frame by a series of cross bars 89 and on the upper end of the frame is arranged a platform 90. The frame is secured to the pier or other support preferably by means of metal bind ing bands 91 arranged as shown. Slidably mounted in the frame 86 is an adjustable tie and bearing plate 92 on which is arranged a right angular laterally projecting bearing bracket 93 which is secured by truss braces 94 and has arranged thereon bearings in which is revolubly mounted a short power shaft 95 to which is connected, by a universal joint, the end section of the power shaft extensions 26 from the main power shaft: in the motors. On the power shaft 95 mounted a bevel gear 96 which is engaged with a bevel gear 97 on the lower end of a vertically disposed power transmitting shaft 98 mounted in a suitable bearing on the tie and bearing plate 92. The upper end of the shaft 98 passes through and is slidably mounted in the platform 90 and has slidabiy keyed on its upper. end a spur gear 99 and a bevel gear 100. The gears 99 and 100 are slidably keyed on the power transmitting shaft 98 so that said shaft is permitted to move upwardly through said gears when the tie plate 92 is adjusted. The gears 99 and 100 are held in operative position by suitable brackets, as shown. The bevel gear 100 is operatively engaged with the bevel gear 101 on the adjacent end of the horizonta ly disposed shaft 102 journaled in suitable bearings on a portion of the platform 90.

The shaft 102 extends to and transmits the power from the motors to the devices to be operated thereby.

Mounted at its lower end in the bracket 98 of the tie plate 92 is a plate adjusting shaft 103, the upper end of which is threaded and passes loosely through guide apertures in the platform 90. The threaded up per end of the shaft is operatively engaged with an adjusting gear 10% having a threaded bore to receive said threaded end of the shaft. The gear 10% is held in position be tween the sections of the platform 90, as shown, and when motion is imparted to the gear to turn the same in one direction or the other, the shaft 103 will be adjusted and the tie plate 92 thereby raised or lowered. Motion is imparted to the gear 101 from t 1e spur gear 99 on the power transmitting shaft 98 by means of idle gears 105 and 105 which are revolubly mounted in a shifting bar 106. The bar 106 is slidably mounted between the sections of the platform 90 and when said bar is shifted to bring one of said idle gears into engagement with the gear 99 and the gear 10%, the latter will be driven by the gear 99 to turn the adjusting shaft in one direction and when the bar is shifted to bring the other idle gears 105 into engagement with said spur gear 99 and said gear 10%, the latter will be driven by said spur gear to turn said adjusting shaft in the opposite direction, thereby providing for the raising and lowering of the tie plate 92. The shifting bar 106 is provided with a shifting lever 107 whereby the same may be readily shifted to bring the idle gears into and out of engagement with the spur gear 99 and the adjusting gear 104. hen the bar 106 is adjusted to an intermediate position, whereby neither of the idle gears 105 or 105 will engage the spur gear )9 and the adjusting gear 104, the latter and the adjusting shaft will not be operated.

The forward end of the first motor section is connected to the tie plate 92 by a series of cables which preferably consist of a pair of main cables 108 connected at their opposite ends to rings 109 through which are passed guide bars 110 adapted to receive the extc sions 26 of the power shaft, as shown. To the ring 109, nearest to the anchorage, are connected pairs of diverging cables 111, the opposite ends of which are connected to the tie plate 92, adjacent to the upper and lower ends of the same, as shown. The rings 109 on the motor end of the cables, 108, are connected by pairs of diverging cables 112 to the forward ,end of the upper and lower side plates 6 of the motor frame. The rings to which the cables 112 are connected are also provided with cables 113 which are connected at their opposite ends to the forward ends of the floats 12, as shown. By an arrangement of cables such as herein shown and described, the floats will be securely attached to the anchorage and the pull or strain equally divided and distributed, thus holding the motors in proper position. By means of the adjustable tie plates to which the forward ends of the cables are attached, the latter may be raised and lowered to correspond with the adjusted position of the motors.

In order to protect the extensions of the power shaft and the cables from drift wood or other floating objects, I provide a series of floating guards which preferably consist of lengths of timbers or bars 11 1 which are loosely connected together by flexible con nections and are connected by braces 115 to the cross bars 110 and by cables 115 to the frame of the motor, as shown. To the timbers or bars 114 are secured suitable slats or bars 116 which project down into the water and prevent drift from coming into engagement with the extensions of the power shafts or with the cables connecting the motors to the anchorage.

While the invention is herein shown as arranged for use in an open stream, the same may be used with equal advantage 1n flumes or water ways by casing in the sides of the frame to form a passage through which a v stream of water is directed and when so used, the floats will of course be dispensed with.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the invention will be readily understood without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1.. In a current motor, a supporting frame, a power shaft adjustably and revolubly mounted in said frame, a current wheel fixed on said shaft, a power transmitting shaft geared at one end to said power shaft, a drive shaft revolubly mounted on said frame, reversing gears connected to said shaft, a connecting shaft geared to said power transmitting shaft and to the shaft of said reversing gears whereby the motion of said power transmitting shaft is conveyed to said drive shaft to turn the latter in one direction or the other, means to throw said onnecting shaft into and out of gear, cable winding drums revolubly mounted on said frame, anchoring cables adapted to be wound on and off from said drums, drum operating shafts, a series of shafts and gears to connect said drum operating shafts with said drive shaft whereby said drums are revolved in one direction or the other,

seepage 5 and means to throw said drum operating shafts into and out of operation.

2. In a current motor, a supporting frame, a power shaft revolubly mounted therein, a current wheel fixedly mounted on said shaft, floats connected to said frame, pivotally mount-ed current deflecting blades, a main drive shaft revolubly mounted on said frame, a power transmitting mechanism whereby the movement of said power shaftis conveyed to said main drive shaft, a reversing mechanism arranged in said power transmitting mechanism whereby said drive shaft may be turned in one direction or the other, a cable winding drum revolubly mounted on said frame, a cable connected at its opposite ends to said current deflecting blades and adapted to be wound on said drum whereby said blades are adjusted, a drum operating shaft geared to said drive shaft and to said drum whereby the latter is driven, and means to throw said drum operating shaft into and out of gear.

3. A current motor consisting of a series of motor sections, each of which comprises a supporting frame, a hinged connection between said sections, a power shaft revolubly and adjustably mounted in said sections, said power shaft being formed in sections, universal joints to connect the sections of the shaft, current wheels on said sections of the power shaft, a main drive shaft revolubly mounted on each of said motor sections, means whereby the movement of said power shaft is transmitted to said drive shaft to turn the same in one direction or the other, revolubly mounted cable winding drums, anchoring cables connected to said drums, means whereby the drums are revolved by said main drive shaft, means to fasten the forward motor section to a pier, a power transmitting shaft on said pier, and means to operatively connect the power shaft of the motor sections with said power transmitting shaft.

4. A current motor consisting of a series of motor sections, each of which comprises a supporting frame, means to hingedly connect said frames together, a power shaft arranged in said sections, said shaft being formed in a series ofjointed sections, current wheels fixedly mounted on the sections of said power shaft, an adjustable motor fastening mechanism adapted to be secured to a pier, said mechanism comprising a supporting frame, means to secure said frame to the pier, a combined tie and bearing plate slidably mounted in said frame, a power transmitting shaft revolubly mounted on said plate, a series of jointed extensions to operatively connect the power shaft in the motor sections to said power transmitting shaft, means operated by said power transmitting shaft to raise and lower said tie and bearing plate in said frame, and a series of cables adapted to connect said motor sections with said plate.

5. A current motor consisting of a series of motor sections, each of which comprises a supporting frame, means to hingedly connect said frames together, a power shaft arranged in said sections, said shaft being formed in a series of jointed sections, current wheels fixedly mounted on the sections of said power shaft, an adjustable motor fastening mechanism adapted to be secured to a pier, said mechanism comprising a frame adapted to be secured to the pier, a platform on the upper end of said frame, a combined tie and bearing plate vertically adjustable in said frame, a power transmitting shaft journaled' at its lower end in a suitable bearing on said tie plate and slidably mounted at its upper end in said platform, a short power shaft section revolubly mounted in suitable bearings on said plate and geared to the lower end of said power transmitting shaft, a series of jointed power shaft extensions to connect the power shaft in said motors with the power shaft section on said plate whereby said power transmitting shaft is driven, a plate adjusting shaft secured at its lower end to said plate and having a threaded upper end slidably engaged with said platform, an adjusting gear having a threaded engagement with said shaft, a spur gear slidably keyed'to said power transmitting shaft, a driving and reversing mechanism to connect the gear on said power transmitting shaft with the threaded gear on said adjusting shaft, whereby the movement of said power transmit ting shaft is imparted to said adjusting shaft gear to turn the same in one direction or the other thereby raisingor lowering said tie plate, means to adjust said driving and reversing mechanism to throw said gears out of operation, and a series of fastening cables to connect said motors with said adjustable tie plate.

6. A current motor consisting of a series of motor sections, each of which comprises a supporting frame, means to hingedly connect said frames together, a power shaft arranged in said sections, said shaft being formed in a series of jointed sections, current wheels fixedly mounted on the sections of said power shaft, an adjustable motor fastening mechanism, said mechanism comprising a frame, means to secure said frame to a pier, a tie plate slid-ably mounted in said frame, a power transmitting shaft revolubly mounted on and carried by said tie plate, means operated by said power transmitting shaft to raise and lower said tie plate, a pair of main fastening cables, rings arranged in the ends of said cables, cross bars arranged through said rings, a power shaft extension having a universal joint connect-ion at one end with the power shaft of said motors, means to connect the opposite end of said extension with the power transmitting shaft on said tie plate, pairs of diverging cables connected to said rings at one end of said main cables, and to the end of the first motor section, and pairs of diverging cables connected to the rings at the opposite ends of said main cables and to said adjustable tie plate.

7. A current motor consisting of a series of motor sections, each of which comprises a supporting frame, means to hingedly connect said frames together, a power shaft arranged in said sections, said shaft being formed in a series of jointed sections, current wheels fixedly mounted on the sections of said power shaft, an adjustable motor fastening mechanism, said mechanism comprising a frame, means to secure said frame to a pier, a tie plate slidably mounted in said frame, a power transmitting shaft revolubly mounted on and carried by said tie plate, means operated by said power transmitting shaft to raise and lower said tie plate, a pair of main fastening cables, rings arranged in the ends of said cables,

cross bars arranged through said rings, a power shaft extension having a universal joint connection at one end with the power shaft of said motors, means to connect the opposite end of said extension with the power transmitting shaft on said tie plate, pairs of diverging cables connected to said rings at one end of said main cables and to the end of the first motor section, pairs of diverging cables connected to the ring at the opposite ends of said main cables and to said adjustable tie plate, drift guards arranged to prevent drift from coming into engagement with said cables, said guards comprising flexibly connected floating timbers, and a series of depending slats secured to said timbers and projecting downwardly into the water.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set lVitnesses E. CAUILL,

BESSIE STnvENs. 

